Above All: A Study in Colossians
Colossians 1:1-8
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
04-03-2022
How to Shoot a Free Throw
Free throws are more difficult than you think. Yes, you are not guarded and yes you can take your time. But, there are so many distractions. The crowd behind the basket is doing whatever they can to throw your concentration off. I’ve seen some really funny antics in the opposing student section during free throws.
When I was in eighth grade, I was on the basketball team. Before the season started, we played the teachers in an exhibition game for the whole school. I was fouled and went to the line.
I’d be playing since I was about five so I had shot thousands of free throws in games, in practice, and in my backyard. I made my free throws about 80% of the time.
Free throws are a combination of ritual, muscle memory, and concentration.
I took two dribbles, bent my knees, exhaled, and the gym went quiet. It was just me at the line and the only thing I saw was the ball going through the net.
I stepped off the line and looked up to my friend group in the stands that were cheering me on. That’s when it happened. All of sudden I was aware that there were 800 pair of eyes on me. My heart started pounding. My hands were sweating.
I toed the line, bent my knees, exhaled and shot the ball. Even leaving my fingertips I knew. It was at least a foot short. I shot an airball in front of 800 people and, believe me, they let me know.
Why did I miss the second shot? Because I stepped off the line and looked somewhere other than the rim.
That’s the key to free throws, and our Christian life - focus on what’s most important and tune out the rest.
Why are we studying Colossians now?
As we approach Easter and our informational meeting with Mike Baker of Eastview, it will be very easy to get distracted and we need to have our eyes on Christ and Christ alone.
The writer of Hebrews makes this clear:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 2:1-2)
The Colossian Heresy
Identifying the false teaching in Colossians isn’t as easy as it was when studying Galatians. It seems to be have a buffet of several different religious philosophies.
From the letter, we can see that this false teaching included:
hollow and deceptive philosophy
Depended on human tradition
Depended on the elemental forces of the world
Didn’t depend on Christ
Advocated the observance of certain food restrictions and Jewish holy days
Practiced ascetic disciplines - fasting
Worshipped angels
Focused on visions they had
Characterized by pride
Lost connection with the “head” - Jesus
It was a mix of Jewish legalism, Gnosticism, local folk religion, and Christianity.
Gnostics believed that they had special insight into spiritually realities. They would say that Jesus dying on the cross was wonderful and I’m glad you believe that. But that’s not enough.
We know this from Paul’s use of the term “fullness,” in the letter. Obviously, these teachers were spreading the idea that putting your faith in Jesus was just the first step and there were additional, secret steps, you needed to take to be a real Christian.
Instead of Paul hammering the false teachers and the heretical teaching like in Galatians, Paul takes another tactic.
He asserts the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the head of all creation and the Church.
Warren Wiersbe writes:
“The message of this letter is greatly needed today. I hear too many voices telling me that I need something more than Jesus Christ - one exciting experience, some new doctrine, some addition to my Christian experience. But Paul affirms that what I need is appropriation of what I already have in Christ.”
Turn with me to Colossians 1.
Prayer
Glad
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.” (Colossians 1:1-2)
Who wrote this letter?
The author of this letter is Paul. That is the name that God gave him. Before that, he was known as Saul.
He was born into a Jewish family from the tribe of Benjamin. He grew up in Tarsus and was educated under the famous rabbi Gamaliel. He was also a Roman citizen.
He was a strict Pharisee who persecuted the church. In fact, we first meet him in the Bible as he is holding the coats of the men who were stoning Steven, one of the first “deacons “ of the church.
He hated Christians and even went from town to town rounding up men, women, and children. It was on one of these missions, that he had an experience that changed his life and direction forever.
One the road to the city of Damascus, he had an encounter with the risen Christ.
“…suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:3-5)
He was blinded by the light and wandered into Damascus with the help of his companions. A Christian named Ananias was directed by God to go and pray for Saul and when he did:
“Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.” (Acts 9:18-19)
In one instant, the persecutor became the preacher! He identifies as an “apostle of Christ Jesus,” which means “messenger of the good news.”
He would be the one to take the Gospel to the Gentiles on multiple successful missionary journeys.
This calling was “by the will of God.” He says nearly the same thing in Romans and I Corinthians.
To the Galatians, Paul would write that, “…God set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace…” (Galatians 1:15)
He would do miracles, would be beaten, stoned, and nearly killed multiple times, would go on to write 2/3 of the New Testament, and would have his head cut off as a martyr in Rome in A.D. 63.
But Paul wasn’t alone. He tells the Colossians that Timothy, our brother, is the co-sender of the letter. Timothy was a protege of Paul’s and was his probably his scribe that wrote down the book of Colossians.
Paul wrote this letter from Rome while he was in prison in about 60 AD.
Where was the letter sent? To the city of Colosse.
Colosse was the least important city that Paul wrote to in the Bible. In the 5th century, it had been a booming city but, by Paul’s time, it had been in decline.
It was located in the Lycus River Valley in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.
It was located at the crossroads of two major highways. One ran east-west and went to Ephesus and a north-south highway that was actually moved to make it easy to get to Laodicea.
Sounds like Colosse and Chenoa have some things in common, doesn’t it?
It was known for high quality dark red wool that was called “Colossian wool.”
Because of the highways, the population was very diverse and there were many different religious and philosophical viewpoints.
At about the time that Paul wrote the letter, the city of Colosse was devastated by an earthquake. To this day, it has never been excavated.
From the letter, it seems that the church at Colosse was made up of mostly Gentiles. Paul doesn’t quote any Old Testament passages and never mentions the Law like he does in other letters.
Paul was not the founding pastor of this church and, as far as we know, had never actually been to Colosse.
So what’s his attitude toward these believers? He is glad to hear of their faithfulness! He calls them “holy ones,” set apart for God. Some of your translations may have the word “saints,” but that word has a different connotation in our day.
Who are the saints in the Bible? They are simply the ones that believe and have put their full faith and trust in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
They are “in Colosse” but they are also “in Christ.” In Christ is a phrase found throughout Paul’s letters and is a beautiful way to describe our Christian lives.
There are many tombs in the catacombs in Rome that don’t have names but simply read “In Christ Jesus.”
They were in Christ but they were still in Colosse, they still lived in this sin-saturated world.
I’m not sure that the “slap heard round the world” at the Oscars was real. But what I do know was that during the commercial break, Denzel Washington, a born again Christian, was the first person to take Will Smith aside and talk with him. Denzel is in Hollywood and in Christ.
Paul often begins his letters with "grace and peace.” Grace is the normal way a Gentile would begin a letter. Peace is the way a Jew would begin a letter.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor which leads to peace with God, the peace of God, and peace with others.
He identifies them as “faithful brothers and sisters.” Even though he has never met them, he had heard of their faithfulness in the midst of false teaching. He also calls them brothers and sisters, something that, as a Jew, would have been like fingernails on a chalk board before he was born again.
But the Gospel had broken down those dividing walls and they were family to Paul and Timothy.
Jews and Gentiles are saved by exactly the same thing - Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross.
Where does this grace and peace come from? “From God our Father.”
You may cringe when you hear that. Some of our father’s didn’t do a good job pointing us to the fatherhood of God through their love. But God isn’t your dad and He’s a Father can be trusted.
Grateful
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven…”
Paul is not only glad to hear that they haven’t given to the false teachers but he is also grateful for their faith, love and hope.
When Paul and his team pray, the Colossians are on their prayer list even though he had never visited them or met them!
We can be praying for our Ukrainian brothers and sister even though we haven’t met them or visited there.
We can pray for this Baptist Church in Chelm, Poland, on the border of Ukraine. They are less than 100 members and, over the last six weeks have hosted over 3,500 refugees in their church and turned a warehouse into a hub that has sent over 300 tons of food into war torn Ukraine.
Paul gives thanks to God, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout Colossians, we will notice Trinitarian language.
What doe he give thanks for? He’s heard three things about these believers:
First, he had heard about their faith in Christ Jesus. They had heard the Gospel message and believed. This is not just intellectual belief but the fundamental means by which God’s grace in Christ is made manifest in our lives. They had considered the claims of the Gospel and placed their full trust in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, in their place, for their sins.
Second, and “the love you have for all God’s people.” Their faith lead them to show love to all of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
John wrote:
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (I John 4:10-12)
In fact, this love is a sign of spiritual life:
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” (I John 3:14)
We are called to express love to everyone, especially those who also claim the name of Jesus.
I read a new poll that asked about Christians and their love for others.
Only 55% of Christians believe other Christians are loving.
Only 15% of people from other religious faiths believe Christians are loving.
Only 15% of people who identify has non-religious report that Christians are even friendly.
I’ve been a Christian long enough to know that much what they say is true of the American church.
The Colossians, in this little town at the crossroads, were actually known in Rome for their love. May it be the same for those who live in Chenoa!
This faith and love find their origin in their hope, and the writer of Hebrews calls this hope an “anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19)
Before the Colossians were born again, they were “without hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12)
This hope is “stored up for you in heaven.”
Christians have hope because this life isn’t the main event. We have hope because Jesus has prepared a place for us. We have hope in this life because we have a Father than keeps His promises and a big brother, Jesus, who died and rose again to prove that hope is real.
William Barclay wrote:
“Faith without love is cold, and hope without love is grim. Love is the fire which kindles faith and it is the light which turns hope into certainty.”
I have dealt with depression my entire life, even as a kid. It’s genetic and biological and I get it from both sides of my family. I don’t have enough Serotonin in my brain and medicine really helps.
Before I was a Christian, there were times when I lost all hope. I was an atheist and I understood that if there was no purpose then there was no point.
After I was born again, God didn’t take away my depression and I still get really down every once in a while. But now, I’m anchored to Christ. I may get blown around by the wind and the waves but I know, under the surface of the water, the anchor holds.
When Kimmy died, the anchor held. When my dream job in Florida turned to a nightmare, the anchor held. When my parents died, the anchor held. When Shiann disowned us, the anchor held.
There are those out there who need to hear this right now - hold on to Jesus. He is our hope! And that hope isn’t to be kept to ourselves.
C.S. Lewis once wrote these words concerning our hope:
“Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world…It does not mean that we are leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians that did the most for the present world were just those who thought the most about the next…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither.”
What was it that brought this hope to Colosse? It was the Gospel!
Gospel Message
“…and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.”
The Colossians heard the message of the Gospel and and truly understood it to be the message of God’s grace.
This Gospel, the good news about Jesus life, death, and resurrection, is truth.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians;
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” (Eph 1:14)
This Gospel was bearing fruit. They had heard the Gospel and now they were sharing it with others and seeing people come to faith in Jesus.
When Paul says the “whole world,” this is a bit of a hyperbole. But he is amazed that the Gospel is growing and changing hearts in the little city of Colosse.
The Gospel still changes hearts today.
I recently heard the story of a woman who thought she was a psychic and considered Christianity a cult. She went on a first date and discovered that the man was a Christ-Follower. He led her to Christ and they’ve been married for many years now.
To the Romans, Paul wrote:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
That word for power is the word that we get our English word dynamite. The Gospel has explosive power to change hearts, even very hard hearts, from the inside out.
Gospel Messenger
“You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.”
Paul didn’t plant this church but now we learn who did. Epaphras, who Paul considers a dear fellow servant and faithful minister, probable was converted by Paul’s preaching in Ephesus.
He was originally from Colosse and returned to that area and began planting churches, particularly in Heriopolis, Colosse, and Laodicea.
It was Epaphras that came to Rome to visit Paul and tell him of the Colossians faithfulness, of the dangers they were facing from false teachers, and the "love that they had in the Spirit.”
Epaphras was faith, hope, and love in action. He loved these believers and wanted them to grow and mature into Christ. He shared the Gospel, not just in preaching and teaching, but with his life.
D. L. Moody said, “for every one person that reads the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.”
Paul asks the Romans believers:
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Epaphras had beautiful feet!
Who brought you the good news? Who have you shared the Gospel with recently? Remember, we are asking you to invite three people to Easter!
Conclusion
Egyptian soccer player Mohamed Salah lined up for a penalty kick in their match against Senegal in the World Cup qualifying playoff on Tuesday night.
As he lined up for the kick, Senegal fans started using green laser pointers to distract him. He ended up missing the kick, with the ball sailing above the cross bar.
Egypt lost the game and is now out of the World Cup.
Why? The enemy used whatever they could to distract him from the main goal. (pun indeed :)
That’s why we must keep our eyes on Jesus.
Leonardo Da Vinci spent three years painting The Last Supper. Before showing it to others, he showed it to an artist who he respected. The friend gushed at in amazement and noted how beautiful the cup in Jesus’ hand was. Di Vinci reached for his paints and begin to paint the cup out of the picture. Stunned the friend asked why. Di Vinci said, “Nothing must distract us from the figure of Christ.”
Communion
Ending Song - In Christ Alone
